Adeyanju Reintegrates MWUN Old Warhorses, Ukaummuna, Rasaki, Preaches Peace

By DAPO OLAWUNI

President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju on Thursday reintegrated its former President General, Comrade Uzoije Ukaummuna and a former Deputy President General, Comrade Rasaki Bakare back into the union fold.

Adeyanju played host to the two veteran labour leaders at the union’s secretariat in Lagos, adding that the move was necessary to put an end to the crisis in the union.

Recall that Comrade Ukaummuna was unceremoniously removed from office by the Federal Government in 2001 due to his opposition to the concessioning of the ports and the attendant mayhem among the union members.

The federal Government had infiltrated the ranks of the union and turned some of its members to support the port concession exercise against the position of the union leadership.

But speaking on Thursday, Adeyanju described Ukaummuna as a visionary leader who saved him from clutches of poverty for ten years. He also described Comrade Rasaki as a Field Marshall who is always ready to go all out in fighting for the interest of dockworkers.

He said “What we are doing today is to tell the world that it is the end of crisis in MWUN

“It is now a news that people will be asking why we are aligning with our leaders. We need to tell them that we are not fighting our leaders neither are they fighting us.

“This struggle started 23 years ago, it was like a dream to those that lost their lives in the crisis between the union and the government.

“There is need for us to work together, we should not be used against ourselves.

“Ukaummuna had a dream as our former PG but the government thwarted his dream because of trying to fight for welfare of the workers.

“The struggle of 23 years ago has come to an end today. This is to to the whole world that think we cannot unite.

“If you fight, you lose your integrity. Today, this union has brought all of them together.” The PG also preached forgiveness among the members even as he told them that position does not last forever

He added that workers should not avail themselves for government to use against the leaders of the union.

Responding, Comrade Uzoeje UUkaummuna released fatherly blessings on Adeyanju and the union, even as he pleaded for forgiveness of the members, and also stressed that he has forgiven all his traducers.

He Commended Adeyanju for all the innovations carried out in the union

“Look at the innovations this young man and his team is bringing here. Then we had no beautiful chairs because we had no money but today, look at beautiful seats. If you want to use people at the top to work against him, it won’t work. Wait for your own turn. Allow him to do what God has given him to do.

“I thank you for all the innovations you are carrying out and God will reward you for your efforts.”

Going memory lane, he explained that the struggle to protect the interest of the workers made the people term him as a violent leader.

“A leader must struggle because anytime you are protecting your children and wife, people will not come close, but if you are docile, they will beat up your wife and children.

“It is because we are fighting for our people that made them call us violent people. If you say you are a gentleman, it doesn’t work, you will be pushed aside.

“The struggle that brought us this far was not easy. We know the suffering we endured. I have forgiven you all, you all should forgive me too” he said

On his part, Comrade Rasaki Bakare commended the MWUN PG Adeyanju, even as he suggested that a meeting of past leaders and present union members should be held twice in a year.

He also prayed for quick recovery of one of the union past PG, Comrade Onikolease Irabor whom according to him has been on the sick bed.

A major highpoint of the event was the presentation of plaques to the two Warhorses and their decoration in union regalia.